]]>Most people have New Year’s Resolutions. What about Mid Year Resolutions? Or an Everyday Resolution for everyday improvements? For many, New Year’s Resolutions are goals that come with the best of intentions, but are often not achieved because of diverted focus. Businesses too have New Year’s Resolutions, but they come in the form of business plans, goals and budgets.

Today’s forward-looking leaders have business plans that include technology evaluations. Leaders that want to keep their organizations moving forward and more competitive recognize that newer technologies will help them stay ahead of their competitors; or at least give them a run for their money if they’re amongst those that have recently updated their technology.

Whereas business goals may be different, there are some similarities too, especially when it comes to improving efficiencies, cutting costs and making better business decisions. Lets take a look at what some of our prospects and customers aspire to do to keep their organizations on track in 2018 and beyond:

Do any of the above benefits resulting from a technology upgrade sound like something your business could use? Technology has changed a lot in recent years and today’s ERP software solutions include many amazing capabilities; capabilities that once required customizations are now included as out-of-the-box features.

Upgrading your ERP system can provide bottom line benefits, especially with the faster Return on Investment (ROI) that can be realized with the right implementation partner. Newer technologies improve efficiencies, collaboration, access to data, business insights, and more.

The ROI of a technology investment is dependent on many factors including:

On-Premises, Cloud or Hybrid Deployment Options

Upgrade Existing System vs. Purchasing New System

Cost of Implementation, including project management, customizations, and training staff.

If you would like to learn more about the capabilities or cost of a modern ERP system like Epicor ERP, give us a call. MIS has been helping organizations meet their business goals with technology for over 30 years and we’ll be happy to talk to you about the latest technologies including Cloud ERP. Hear what we have to say and then decide for yourself if the timing is right to upgrade your ERP solution. Not ready today? That’s ok, we’ll be ready when you are. Our goal is for you to experience Exceptional ERP – that’s what we call ERP project success.

]]>https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/12-mid-year-resolutions-to-keep-your-business-on-track/feed/0The Key to Winning and Keeping Customershttps://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/the-key-to-winning-and-keeping-customers/
https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/the-key-to-winning-and-keeping-customers/#respondWed, 08 May 2019 14:27:00 +0000https://www.mis-c.com/?p=4756What if you were told that in five years your most significant brand differentiator would be based around the customer experience, overtaking price and product? That is becoming today’s reality as customer commitment is becoming a crucial competitive differentiator and the key to winning and keeping customers for both B2B...

]]>What if you were told that in five years your most significant brand differentiator would be based around the customer experience, overtaking price and product? That is becoming today’s reality as customer commitment is becoming a crucial competitive differentiator and the key to winning and keeping customers for both B2B and B2C companies.

Today’s customers place a very high value on an exceptional customer experience. In fact, the customer experience is so significant that according to Walker, a customer experience consulting firm, 86% of buyers are willing to pay more for a product or service that offers a better customer experience. That says a lot!

Statistics show that companies believe that the best business opportunity lies in the Customer Experience (CX). A Econsultancy survey found that 41% of B2B and 47% of B2C companies were committed to making it easy, fun, valuable or pleasurable to do business with them. In fact, the customer experience was considered a bigger priority than product quality and service, exceeding those percentages by 8% and 23% respectively. To stay competitive, businesses need to be as customer-centric as possible.

Effective Strategies for Providing the Best Customer Service

A study conducted by Salesforce, a popular CRM tool, found that top performing customer service companies were more likely to be heavy users of technology. These companies also incorporated many of the same strategies to help them achieve exceptional customer service levels, as follows:

Three areas of Focus: “Always-on” Service, Personalized Service and Faster Service.
Efficiency Valued

Empowerment of Customer Service Employees

Excel at Predicting Customers Needs

Use Analytics and Dashboards to Learn and Improve

Tap into the Power of Self Service

Epicor ERP and Epicor SaaS Tools for Improved Customer Service

Improving the Customer Experience with Epicor ERP and Epicor SaaS

Epicor ERP and Epicor SaaS were designed from the ground up to help today’s businesses improve their business processes and operations. The difference updated technology can make in day to day operations carries over into the overall customer experience. Epicor ERP 10 and Epicor SaaS benefit both the organization and their valued customers through:

More Streamlined Business Processes

Improved Efficiencies

Business Intelligence (BI) and Analytics

Increased Collaboration

Mobile Access

Modern Tools

Integrated Databases

Integrated CRM

Benefits of an ERP Upgrade

If you’re reading this, then you’re most likely in the midst of the challenges of an outdated ERP system. Not only is it difficult to service your customers at a higher level, but challenges are evident through every touch-point that your ERP system has with your business because ERP is truly at the core of everything you do. The bottom line impact of a technology upgrade will come in the form of:

More Efficient Processes and Operations

Cost Savings

Better Data for Better Informed Decisions

Analytics with Actionable Items

Team Collaboration

Better Customer Service

Fewer Database Errors

Modern technology enables organizations to be more customer-centric which leads to greater competitiveness. For businesses to succeed they need to demonstrate a higher level of customer commitment; offering the best price or product is no longer the key. An investment in infrastructure is what customer commitment looks like in 2018. This is the key to winning and keeping customers.

If you would like to learn more about the latest business technologies and how they can help you with customer acquisition and retention, contact MIS today. MIS has been helping businesses from a variety of industries utilize cutting-edge technologies to meet business goals and objectives for over 30 years. Ensuring a successful ERP project is more than selecting the best ERP solution for your business. Work with MIS and let our seasoned consultants help you take your business to higher levels, beyond what you thought was possible. With MIS you will experience nothing less than Exceptional ERP Let us help you today!

]]>https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/the-key-to-winning-and-keeping-customers/feed/0QuickBooks to ERP: When Should Manufacturers Upgrade to ERP?https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/quickbooks-upgrade-to-erp-when-should-manufacturers-upgrade-to-erp/
https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/quickbooks-upgrade-to-erp-when-should-manufacturers-upgrade-to-erp/#respondFri, 29 Mar 2019 01:53:14 +0000https://www.mis-c.com/?p=4544Easy to use, reliable, and able to handle basic accounting needs, QuickBooks is a good choice for a start up or small manufacturing business. Over time, whether planned, or a natural evolvement or out of necessity, businesses change. Market conditions, customer requirements, globalization, inefficiencies, expansion, M&A and more each have...

]]>Easy to use, reliable, and able to handle basic accounting needs, QuickBooks is a good choice for a start up or small manufacturing business. Over time, whether planned, or a natural evolvement or out of necessity, businesses change. Market conditions, customer requirements, globalization, inefficiencies, expansion, M&A and more each have an impact on longevity. When is the right time for a QuickBooks upgrade to ERP software?

Organizations that are able to evolve and transform themselves have a brighter future than those that fail to plan for what’s ahead. A QuickBooks upgrade to ERP software using the latest technology can help your manufacturing business pave a clearer path towards meeting goals and have a big business impact.

Consider how differently a manufacturer with business intelligence (BI) and KPI’s would operate as compared to one that was always reactive. How about the bottom line impact to a manufacturer with operations riddled with inefficiencies compared to a L.E.A.N. organization? Areas like this can be greatly impacted in a positive way with the right technology. A QuickBooks upgrade to ERP software can help you get there.

How to Know if You’re Reaching the Limitations of QuickBooks

QuickBooks Desktop, according to Intuit, is designed for small businesses with revenues up to two million with twenty or fewer employees. If you are nearing these parameters, or if you are reaching other limitations of QuickBooks, then it’s time to consider a QuickBooks upgrade to ERP software because QuickBooks is not ERP software.

If one or more of the below points sound like what your manufacturing business is experiencing, then you might be reaching the limitations of QuickBooks:

Operations have grown and expanded

Business growth or additional entities

More complex financial reporting requirements

Noticeable decline in QuickBooks processing speed

QuickBooks user limitations

Features needed are not available in QuickBooks Manufacturing

Need to incorporate Industry Best Practices to be more competitive.

You’re not alone if you are experiencing any of the above. Aberdeen, a leading research organization, surveyed a group of 231 respondents and found that the most common excuses for organizations to be without ERP software were:

It appears, based on the responses, that there is no sense of urgency for many smaller manufacturers to upgrade to a true ERP system because it is their perception that they are doing fine without it, or that it’s not worth the expense. Why spend money when you don’t have to?

ERP Cost of Ownership Less Today with ERP Cloud Solutions

If cost of ownership is a concern, ERP software is not as expensive as it once was. Today there are a multitude of solutions available to fit the needs of organizations of all sizes and a variety of budgets.

ERP pricing can vary greatly depending on factors such as platform, number of users and depth of functionality. To offer a lower cost entry point, many vendors, such as Epicor Software Corporation, offer cloud-based solutions. Epicor SaaS provides smaller businesses with many of the same features as Epicor ERP, the more traditional on-premises solution, but with a lower initial investment and overall cost of ownership.

Manufacturers Can Alleviate Many Business Challenges with Technology

By updating your technology, you have an opportunity to alleviate many of the most common challenges faced by manufacturers still using older technologies. Newer technologies provide:

Barely touching on the benefits, one can see that if upgrading is delayed for too long, then the greatest risk will be that of being left behind by those that are more efficient and more customer centric.

Status Quo is Not Easiest or Best in the Long Run

No one likes change. Change is disruptive. You might think that it’s easier to keep things status quo, but broken processes, inefficiencies and lack of accurate data can create bigger problems in the future.

Smart manufacturers look towards the future and strategize on what is will take to get there. Business goals and objectives with a clearly outlined plan in place will help today’s goals become tomorrow’s reality. Sharing company goals with employees and communicating the positive impact updated technologies will have on both the company and everyday tasks will help employees understand the need for change and embrace it instead of resist it, a great step towards ERP project success!

To learn more about upgrading your QuickBooks to Epicor ERP or Epicor ERP SaaS, contact MIS today. MIS has been selling and supporting accounting software and enabling Exceptional ERP for over 30 years. We’ve seen first hand how the right technology has helped our clients to be more competitive and you can be confident that we have the experience to know what it takes to get you there. With MIS you can look forward to an Exceptional ERP experience with outstanding service and ROI. Most importantly, if you’re not ready today, we are here to advise you today and help you tomorrow. For your free consultation, call 503-614-1919 today.

]]>https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/quickbooks-upgrade-to-erp-when-should-manufacturers-upgrade-to-erp/feed/012 Simple Reasons to Upgrade Your ERP System – The Bottom Linehttps://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/12-simple-reasons-to-upgrade-your-erp-system-the-bottom-line/
https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/12-simple-reasons-to-upgrade-your-erp-system-the-bottom-line/#respondWed, 27 Feb 2019 14:52:37 +0000https://www.mis-c.com/?p=5446Lets face it, there are a lot of reasons to upgrade an ERP system, and the final push to move forward is dependent on current pain points, business requirements and goals. Whether provoked by a change in executive leadership, merger & acquisitions, growth, inefficiencies, data inaccuracies, disconnected data or other,...

]]>Lets face it, there are a lot of reasons to upgrade an ERP system, and the final push to move forward is dependent on current pain points, business requirements and goals. Whether provoked by a change in executive leadership, merger & acquisitions, growth, inefficiencies, data inaccuracies, disconnected data or other, there is a common thread of challenges resulting from outdated ERP technologies. Here are 12 simple reasons to upgrade your ERP system – the bottom line:

Obsolete Technology – Existing systems are difficult and inefficient to use and expensive to maintain and support and ERP customizations are expensive and unable to move forward. Newer technologies are easier to use and less expensive to support.

Inefficient – Older ERP technologies require many more steps to complete a task than current technologies. Modern ERP frees up employee’s time with Business Process Improvement and the automation of many repetitive, everyday processes.

Not User Friendly – Older systems aren’t as intuitive and cumbersome to use. Modern user interfaces are more streamlined and offer more personalized, efficient user experiences.

Not Flexible – Older ERP and legacy systems lacked flexibility and forced you to do business their way. When your business needs changed, older ERP systems required expensive customizations that could not be easily upgraded. Today’s systems are much more flexible.

Not Scalable – Growing companies need a system that is scalable and can grow with them.

Disparate Systems – Disparate systems cause a whole slew of problems starting with a disconnected organization and ending with a lack of transparency and decisions that are based on partial information.

No Collaboration Capabilities – Modern ERP enables collaboration and sharing of information for improved communications and efficiencies amongst employees, vendors, and suppliers

Lack of Mobility – Older ERP systems require employees to work at their desk. Employees can now access their ERP system 24/7.

Low Cost Cloud Deployment Options– Lower cost cloud solutions like Epicor Cloud ERP are enabling smaller businesses to have access to functionality that was previously only reserved for larger companies with larger budgets.

Higher Customer Expectations – Customers expect a lot more today. If you’re not able to service them as expected, then retention rates go down and acquisition costs go up.

Not Meeting Current Requirements – Older ERP system were designed around older business requirements and rarely address current requirements and goals. If your ERP system does not helping you meet your current business goals and objectives, then you are keeping your business from moving forward.

ERP systems impact who we are as a company and how we are perceived by others, both internally and externally. If we hang onto old, outdated processes and technologies then we are not making room for new opportunities or for improvement. Being stuck with a system that’s based on our old set of requirements often means that our business is also stuck and not able to move forward.

Learn More About Upgrading Your ERP System

Ready to talk about your business and what you can do to move your business forward? Do you have specific challenges with your existing ERP? Do you need help with your ERP project budget or preparing for an upgrade? Do you want to learn more about how Epicor ERP or Epicor Cloud ERP solutions can help you improve your bottom line and be more competitive?

Want to learn more about MIS, a top-tiered Platinum Partner and also the longest standing Epicor partner? Take a look at our About Us page.

]]>https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/12-simple-reasons-to-upgrade-your-erp-system-the-bottom-line/feed/0When is it the Right Time for a New ERP System?https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/when-is-it-the-right-time-for-a-new-erp-system/
https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/when-is-it-the-right-time-for-a-new-erp-system/#respondThu, 21 Feb 2019 20:51:36 +0000https://www.mis-c.com/?p=5413If your business is continually challenged by broken or outdated processes that are causing inefficiencies and keeping your business from moving forward, then it’s probably time to consider investing in a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. How do you know when it’s the right time for a new ERP...

]]>If your business is continually challenged by broken or outdated processes that are causing inefficiencies and keeping your business from moving forward, then it’s probably time to consider investing in a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. How do you know when it’s the right time for a new ERP system? Is it now, or can you push the decision out another quarter or two, or year or two?

Every business is faced with their unique set of challenges, and when these challenges cumulate to inefficiencies or the inability to meet expectations, then it’s time to begin researching new ERP systems. The signs may be coming from multiple areas of your business and after a while it may become quite obvious that your ERP is no longer keeping up with your current requirements. If any of the below scenarios sound like you, then it’s time to look into upgrading your ERP:

Your processes are outdated, and employees are spending too much time on tasks that could be automated.

Your data is spread amongst multiple disconnected systems and databases, making it hard to get a clear picture when important decisions need to be made.

You are challenged to keep up with changing regulations.

Your current system does not allow for team collaboration or the sharing of information amongst team members.

Your customers are often frustrated by the time and effort it takes to get a response to seemingly simple inquiries.

You have a hard time managing inventory and are holding onto extra inventory “just in case” it’s needed.

You’re not able to work with some retailers because of their RFID requirements.

Your management is constantly reacting to what needs to be done instead of being proactive about the future of your business.

You’re growing and your current ERP system does not provide the flexibility or scalability to grow with you.

Your ERP software vendor is no longer providing software updates.

Your current system is getting too expensive to maintain.

You can’t access essential business data and information when you’re off-site

If your ERP is keeping you from reaching your full potential, then it’s time to start the process of learning about how you can improve your business with a new ERP system. ERP is a big investment, but the ROI can be quite high when one considers the expense of supporting an older ERP system and the efficiencies and improved decision making capabilities gained from a new ERP system; a new ERP system can have a significant, positive bottom line impact on a business.

If you’re not a decision maker, then you’ll need to justify the investment of a new ERP system to management so that they understand the challenges resulting from your current ERP. The above checklist can be used as a basis for creating your unique list of challenges and the list can be further expanded by your talking to colleagues or other functional areas. A list of challenges is a great way to start a conversation with your decision-maker about how a new ERP system could help. Once management understands the challenges of the existing ERP and the benefits of a new ERP system, then they will need to allocate a budget before an ERP project can be moved forward.

If you have questions, or want to learn more about how modern ERP technologies can help your business, contact MIS. MIS has been helping businesses in a variety of industries meet their goals and objectives with technology for over 30 years. Experience counts, and we know what it takes for you to have an Exceptional ERP experience and a bigger ROI on your investment. Just ask!

]]>https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/when-is-it-the-right-time-for-a-new-erp-system/feed/0Outdated ERP System: How Bad Do You Look from the Outside?https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/outdated-erp-system-how_bad_do_you_look_from-outside/
https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/outdated-erp-system-how_bad_do_you_look_from-outside/#respondFri, 15 Feb 2019 16:47:04 +0000http://www.mis-c.com/?p=3640You’ve been plugging along, using the same old outdated ERP system for years, after all it still works even without all the bells and whistles of an updated ERP system. What difference does it make anyhow? No one cares whether your system is old or new, this is how you’ve been...

]]>You’ve been plugging along, using the same old outdated ERP system for years, after all it still works even without all the bells and whistles of an updated ERP system. What difference does it make anyhow? No one cares whether your system is old or new, this is how you’ve been doing business for a long time. Why spend money on an expensive ERP system when you don’t have to?

Before you say no to a new system, think about how your old outdated ERP system makes your business look from the outside.

Do you require too many steps to resolve an issue?

Does your customer have to wait for a callback to get an answer?

Does your customer have to be transferred to multiple people for their answer?

Does your customer get a different answer depending on which department they talk to?

Are your customers frustrated or dissatisfied?

If you answered yes to one or more of the above, then you are experiencing inefficiencies with your outdated ERP system that are risking customer satisfaction levels and how you are perceived by your customers, the outside world.

Analyst Esteban Kolsky studied customer experiences and the impact that the not so stellar customer experiences had on the future of a business, including if the issues were resolved in the end. What Kolsky found was that customers wanted not only an answer to their questions, but that they also wanted the right answer.

56% of customers just want the right answer.

64% of customers lack the confidence that the answer provided was correct.

44% of customers confirmed they got the wrong answer.

What would you think, or how would you feel if you figured out that the answer provided by the company representative was incorrect? Trust would definitely be at risk, plus if multiple incorrect answers were given, then there would probably be some loss of respect for the person on the other end of the line.

Not only do slow responses and inaccurate answers risk your business looking bad, but Kolsky also found that with negative experiences, your business is at risk of losing future business because unhappy customers tend to vent their frustrations more than happy customers share their positive experiences. Here are some statistics from the Kolsky study:

67% of customers site bad experiences as a reason to take their business elsewhere; 55% of customers are willing to pay more for a guaranteed good experience.

84% of consumers are frustrated when the representative does not have the information needed to help them.

Customer frustration leads to the following: 13% tell 15 or more people if they are unhappy; 72% will share a positive experience with 6 or more people.

George Washington University also analyzed the cost of a dissatisfied customer, and here is what they found:

Average businesses don’t here from 96% of unhappy customers.

For every complaint received, there are 24 people with unvoiced problems, six of which are serious.

As many as 90% who are dissatisfied with the service they receive will not buy again or come back.

Of those that complain, 50-70% will come back if the complaint is resolved. 95% will return if resolved quickly.

Average complaining customer will tell 9 to 10 people; 13% will tell more than 20 people.

Those who complained and had a resolution will tell five people.

So, are you still thinking no one cares if your ERP system is old or new? Well, you’re right, customers don’t care about your outdated ERP system, but what they do care about is getting what they want when they want it, and it’s all about efficiency. If you can’t get products out the door on time because you’ve unexpectedly run out of an item in your Bill of Materials (BOM), or if your representatives aren’t able to answer customer inquiries quickly or correctly, that’s when the customer becomes frustrated and takes notice of your outdated ERP system. Frustrated customers mean that you are risking losing your marketshare in today’s competitive global marketplace.

If you would like to learn more about how Epicor ERP can help your business look it’s best from the outside while staying more competitive in today’s global marketplace, give MIS a call. MIS has been helping businesses like yours resolve their biggest challenges with technology for 30 years. Our sales team will listen to your current business challenges and provide you with insights as to how Epicor ERP can improve what you are doing today. Learn about the expected Return on Investment (ROI) with Epicor ERP, and then decide for yourself if it’s worth the investment. Advice is always free.

]]>https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/outdated-erp-system-how_bad_do_you_look_from-outside/feed/0Food and Beverage Digital Transformation – 5 Steps to Get You Startedhttps://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/food-and-beverage-digital-transformation-5-steps-to-get-you-started/
https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/food-and-beverage-digital-transformation-5-steps-to-get-you-started/#respondFri, 25 Jan 2019 18:08:19 +0000https://www.mis-c.com/?p=4965If you’re just starting to think about digital transformation, you’re not alone. According to the RSM Digital Transformation Survey, 81% of executives are taking steps towards a digital transformation; 53% have expressed concernes about their companies ability to achieve their goals for transformation. With food and beverage digital transformation a...

]]>If you’re just starting to think about digital transformation, you’re not alone. According to the RSM Digital Transformation Survey, 81% of executives are taking steps towards a digital transformation; 53% have expressed concernes about their companies ability to achieve their goals for transformation. With food and beverage digital transformation a top priority for many, but where should you start?

First one must have concrete goals for a digital transformation. Identify the areas that are broken and what is needed to fix them and have a good understanding of the future direction of your company. Is it time to compete with e-commerce? Are disparate systems holding you back? Are you looking to implement a mobile strategy? Do you need to improve collaboration and efficiencies? Is your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system holding you back? Whatever the areas of concern, determine what your goals are for digital transformation and develop your strategy for success. Here are 5 steps to get you started with your digital transformation:

Gain Executive Buy-In for Your Digital Transformation

Determine a Project Budget for Digital Transformation

Create a Digital Transformation Team

Establish Digital Transformation Goals

Engage a Professional Consultant for Your Digital Transformation

Step 1: Gain Executive Buy-In for your Digital Transformation

Contrary to what many may think, a company’s digital transformation is not the sole responsibility of the Chief Information Officer (CIO). According to the RSM Digital Transformation survey, 91% of food and beverage company Chief Financial Officres (CFO) share in the responsibilty and leadership in transforming their businesses.

Start your project by educating your executive team on the benefits, goals and expected Return on Investment (ROI) of a digital transformation. If executives understand and agree that a digital transformation will have a positive impact and strong ROI, then they will help promote the transition.

Step 2: Determine a Project Budget for Digital Transformation

Technology solutions and projects vary greatly in size, scope and overall costs. Knowing your budget will help you identify your solution faster by keeping you focused on solutions within your price range. When determining your budget, consider not only the software costs, but also costs associated with hardware, implementaion, customizations, training, support and maintenance. If later in the process, your ‘wish list’ is greater than your budget, the option of a phased approach should be considered. Don’t spend time shopping for a Ferrari when you only have the budget for an economy car.

Step 3: Create a Digital Transformation Project Team

Once a budget has been agreed upon, a Digital Transformation Project Team must be selected. Teams should include representatives from all areas of the business that will be directly impacted by the new system. This includes everything from customer service to finance to the employees in the warehouse. Each functional area will have their own perspective of what’s needed to help their area be most productive. Your project team should also have a team leader to manage the project. Your team leader can be an internal representative or an outside consultant.

Step 4: Establish Digital Transformation Goals

Are you looking to streamline processes, gain business intelligence, reduce costs, expand into new product lines or markets, or through mergers and acquisitions? Or play in the e-commerce arena? Whatever your goals, digital transformation can help you take your business to the next level. Technology provides many opportunities for improvement, and if your team is not familiar with the benefits of a transformation, go online to do your homework. An experienced consultant can also help you further define your ERP project goals as they typically have the advantage of having worked with many different types of businesses within and outside of your industry.

Step 5: Engage a Professional Consultant for Your Digital Transformation

You may think you can save some money by doing managing your entire project in-house, but this is rarely the case. Hiring a professional consultant that understands some of your biggest industry challenges and is experienced in addressing them with with technology could offer you cost savings that you probably would not have realized on your own. Not only can an experienced consultant shorten the process, they can save you time and money. You can’t replace the knowledge gained from years of experience. Working with a professional means your system will be configured best to meet your requirements while addressing challenges unique to your company and incorporating proven industry best practices.

If you are looking to digital transformation to take your business to the next level, MIS can help. MIS hires seasoned consultants that have worked in a variety of industries, or for Epicor Software Corporation. Our team listens and works hard to understand the many details of your business so that we can bring you an Exceptional ERP experience. To learn more, contact MIS today!

]]>https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/food-and-beverage-digital-transformation-5-steps-to-get-you-started/feed/0Are Best Practices Best for Your Manufacturing Business?https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/are-best-practice-best-for-your-manufacturing-business/
https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/are-best-practice-best-for-your-manufacturing-business/#respondSat, 12 Jan 2019 22:15:16 +0000https://www.mis-c.com/?p=5343It’s time for a new ERP system! Your ERP project is off to a great start! You have a team with a team leader, your decision makers are on board and a budget is in place. Online research, discussions with others about their ERP experiences, a partial list of must...

]]>It’s time for a new ERP system! Your ERP project is off to a great start! You have a team with a team leader, your decision makers are on board and a budget is in place. Online research, discussions with others about their ERP experiences, a partial list of must have features and functionality, and general goals for the new ERP system are underway. What about industry best practices?

You’ve heard ERP vendors touting that their systems incorporate best practices into predefined processes, and some of your team members have been gaining an understanding of best practices for your industry. It would make sense that incorporating best practices could simplify your ERP project, why reinvent the wheel? Not so fast! Just because a particular ERP system or best practices are ideal for one business does not mean they are the best for your business. Lets take a look.

Take Toyota Motor Sales USA as an example. Starting with their Mission Statement “To attract and attain customers with high-valued products and services and the most satisfying ownership experience in America” and Vision Statement: “To be the most successful and respected car company in America” one can figure out that Toyota’s goals are based around customer acquisition and retention, quality products and services and the overall customer experience. With that, we can better understand why Toyota Material Handling CEO, Brett Wood would suggest that ths list of 9 key practices aka “best practices” is essential for today’s manufactures:

Educate your associates on what is expected of them

Engage your associates in making changes

Empower your associates to make changes

Consistency is a key factor in continuous improvement

Develop new visualization tools to help all associates visualize what is happening in your plant

Practice genchi genbutsu (go to the place where work is done and see with your own eyes what is going on)

Visit customers and ask for their ideas

Look for kaizen opportunities in the office environment

Culture is king

Wood’s 9 key practices support his goals as well as the mission and vision of Toyota Motor Sales USA. In effort to be the most successful car company in America, Wood expects associates to be educated, engaged and empowered to make changes. Plus, customer input is sought after and valued as the opinion’s of Toyota’s drivers are important to the brand.

Next, we have a list of best practices for another industry, also in the manufacturing sector.

Establishing strong quality management systems

Obtaining appropriate quality raw materials

Establishing robust operating procedures

Detecting and investigating product quality deviations

Maintaining reliable testing laboratories.

Our second list, even though also considered best practices is different because it comes from a highly regulated industry, that of the pharmaceutical industry which is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. One could argue that all industries should have a strong quality management system, high quality products, reliable testing, etc. but pharmaceutical companies need to take those requirements to a higher standard that most manufacturers.

How then does one determine which “best practices” to use? Industry specific best practices are a great start, but even industry best practices may not be best for your particular business. Before jumping down the path of best practices, take a look at these practical tips that will help you be the best that you can be:

Include a industry specific ERP solution in your evaluation process

Don’t assume that the recommended best practices and processes are best for your business

Understand your goals and seek best practices that will help achieve targets

Determine if recommended best practices make sense for your business

If ‘best practices’ are not going to help your company reach it’s goals, don’t use them

Be open to extending the functionality of an ERP system with customizations to your gohelp meet goals

The best ERP system for your former colleagues business may not be the best for your business

With an abundance of ERP options to choose from, there’s no need to rush through the selection process. Take your time to do your homework up front, don’t get dazzled by fancy ERP demonstrations, and stay focused on what you’re trying to accomplish with a new ERP system. To learn more about selecting the right ERP solution for your manufacturing business, take a look at these MIS blogs:

If you would like to learn more about Epicor ERP and which industry best practices will help you meet your business goals, contact MIS. MIS is the longest standing Epicor ERP partner, and as a Platinum tier Epicor ERP partner you can count on MIS to have the experience and insight needed to create an ERP system helps you exceed your business goals today and tomorrow. Our team of professional consultants have been helping manufacturers like you create ERP solutions resulting in an Exceptional ERP experience for over three decades! Contact the experts and MIS today!

]]>https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/are-best-practice-best-for-your-manufacturing-business/feed/0The Beauty Industry – Personalization, Consumer Experiences and ERPhttps://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/the-beauty-industry-personalization-consumer-experiences-and-erp/
https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/the-beauty-industry-personalization-consumer-experiences-and-erp/#respondMon, 10 Dec 2018 19:03:06 +0000https://www.mis-c.com/?p=5286Historically, innovation in the cosmetics and beauty industry has been predominately focused on R&D in formulation chemistry, which was backed up by huge marketing budgets; today it’s more than formulation chemistry and marketing dollars with many factors coming into play. Beyond products being produced, personalization and the overall Customer Experience...

]]>Historically, innovation in the cosmetics and beauty industry has been predominately focused on R&D in formulation chemistry, which was backed up by huge marketing budgets; today it’s more than formulation chemistry and marketing dollars with many factors coming into play. Beyond products being produced, personalization and the overall Customer Experience (CX) have become a focus of leading manufacturers. Today, businesses need to look at every aspect of their organization, from products to business processes in effort to provide the best overall customer-centric experience.

Personalized Consumer Experiences

Beauty manufacturers are responding to growing customer expectations with new product offerings, new retail experiences, and attention-grabbing offerings. Using foundation products as an example:

CoverGirl has launched their Custom Blend app which matches products to consumers through facial recognition, a system which analyzes and matches the consumers skin tone, intensity and undertone to a CoverGirl foundation which can then be packaged with custom packaging created on the spot by the customer selecting fonts and label colors with an option for their name to be added to their foundation bottle.

Why are there so many foundation options and new approaches and tactics in helping consumers identify their perfect foundation? Because today’s consumers are more discerning and demanding than previous generations, and to remain competitive and sustainable manufacturers need to focus on meeting and exceeding those expectations.

In the case of foundation, and many other consumer products from technology to automobiles, consumers are looking for new, innovative approaches to address their specific needs or preferences. Aging baby boomers are looking for age-defying formulas, teenagers for products that don’t clog their pores, health conscious consumers for more natural, even chemical-free options, and the list goes on. Manufacturers are tasked to innovate products as quickly as possible to meet this higher level of expectations.

Personalization Goes Beyond Products to Include Corporate Experiences

Not only do manufactures need to continually focus on product innovation, they also need to focus on market share and today market share is directly impacted by the overall Customer Experience (CX). Customer experiences expand beyond the end consumer to include vendors, suppliers, and to some extent employees. Furthermore, the CX goes beyond traditional touch points to include the Internet of Things (IoT) and social media which have dramatically impacted how we live and work. If a manufacturer is hard to do business with because of outdated business processes, then it comes at the cost of a poor CX which puts future loyalty is at risk.

ERP Technology – Improving the Experience

How easy is it to engage with your company? How are product concerns communicated back to corporate? How easy, or difficult is it for vendors and suppliers to interface with your company or its representatives? Have tools and technology been put into place to simplify the process? Are you an ‘easy-to-do-business-with’ company?

How quickly can you bring new, innovative products to market? When opportunity knocks, do you know which opportunities make the most business sense to pursue? Are you looking to grow your business? Do you have the infrastructure to manage growth? Are you challenged to keep up with changing regulatory requirements?

Our blog, The Beauty Industry – Building a Strong Foundation with ERP Technology, provides insights on how Epicor Tropos, a modern ERP solution designed specifically for process manufacturers, can have a positive impact on every aspect of your business.

]]>https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/the-beauty-industry-personalization-consumer-experiences-and-erp/feed/0Can Custom ERP be Upgraded? Yes!https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/can-custom-erp-be-upgraded-yes/
https://www.mis-c.com/erp-blog/can-custom-erp-be-upgraded-yes/#respondFri, 16 Nov 2018 13:00:41 +0000https://www.mis-c.com/?p=4874Can custom ERP be upgraded? That’s a great question. Traditionally ERP systems with customizations were bound to the version of the software that the customizations were designed for. Upgrading a customized ERP system meant that expensive customizations were lost. As a result, highly customized systems were not upgraded until they...

]]>Can custom ERP be upgraded? That’s a great question. Traditionally ERP systems with customizations were bound to the version of the software that the customizations were designed for. Upgrading a customized ERP system meant that expensive customizations were lost. As a result, highly customized systems were not upgraded until they were past their time, at which point they had to be replaced.

Epicor Software Corporation saw the challenges that businesses with functionality requirements beyond their already robust ERP solutions faced. First, it often took years to complete customizations, then as software and hardware updates became available, the customizations could not be applied. The bottom line was that companies with customizations were never on a current ERP system. With that, Epicor set course to develop a product that did not impact customizations.

The good news is that the release of Epicor ERP 9 brought with it a complete redesign, from the ground up, of how Epicor ERP was architected. Part of the strategy behind the redesign of Epicor ERP 9 was to separate the software, customizations and technology into unique components so that each could be updated independently. With that, companies using Epicor ERP 9 and later were given control over what was upgraded and when the upgrades occured. Separating the software, customizations and technology was a smart approach because businesses are able to gain a higher ROI from their investment through the preservation of ERP customizations.

If you would like to learn more about how the response to, “Can Custom ERP be Upgraded?” changed from no to an absolute ‘yes’ with the release of Epicor ERP 9, contact MIS today. The team at MIS has been helping businesses conquer their biggest business challenges for over 30 years, and we are ready for yours! And don’t forget to ask us about Exceptional ERP !